Roberta Cocci Grifoni

Method to define a solar energy platform for historical city centers and identification of new scenarios for sustainability

Sustainable energy is no longer a technological challenge, as many of its aspects have now been analyzed and solved. However, this is not true when looking for sustainable systems that are technologically compatible with the characteristics of the historical city. The research first investigated a specific case study: the historical center of Ascoli Piceno in the Marche Region. The analysis began by estimating the solar radiation and evaluating useful parameters such as the sky view factor and shadows. In order to provide useful services to citizens dealing with the environment and to reduce energy consumption, a web application was developed to identify renewable energy systems that have already been constructed in the municipal area and to assess the benefit of installing pv devices on the roofs.

Use of Decision-Support Systems in Defining Scenarios for Sustainable, Shared Urban Development

The subject of sustainability requires the integration of various areas of disciplinary knowledge and in particular, knowledge related to the overall management and dynamics of ecological and social systems. Traditionally, the different disciplines have addressed the theme of sustainability by developing mathematical models and using indicators to measure the different aspects. However, not all of these aspects can be measured in quantitative terms (Bell and Morse 2008; Pollesch and Dale 2015).

State of the Art on the Search for Sustainability and Quality of Life in Cities

The concept of sustainability appears simple but is difficult to define. It can be at once an idea, a lifestyle, a production mode, or a way of “consuming”. As John Huckle writes, “…Like liberty, justice and democracy, sustainability has no single and agreed meaning. It takes on different meaning within different political ideologies and programmes underpinned by different kind of knowledge, values and philosophy” (Huchle 1996).

The QLandQLife Tool

In recent decades, the city and the broader concept of the territory have experienced a metamorphosis: from usable physical resources and controllable, designable space to a new interpretation of the urban system. This system is complex, so the inadequacy of linear planning becomes clear when faced with an increasingly strong need for multiple intelligible responses. The ideal of the city as a “single element” has been substituted by the concept of “system city”, going beyond the model of a city that can be decomposed and simplified to attain an interpretation of the system as a “complex unit”.

The Landscape as a “Complex Indicator” of Urban Sustainability and Quality of Life of City Inhabitants

As mentioned in Chap. 1, the debate about the sustainable city and the quality of life of city inhabitants is like a large arena where heterogeneous approaches and contributions from different sectors meet, without ever converging on a common vision. Consequently, it is difficult to identify effective models to assess urban policies, plans, and projects to address the challenge of sustainability. The sectoral cultural approach to themes of urban sustainability and improving the quality of life in cities has extended from scientific research to plans and projects for transformation. A comparison of different possible project alternatives and monitoring of the results of policies and plans over time is often lacking, as well as an open dialogue between researchers and political and social actors (Bertuglia et al. 2004).

Application of the Tool and Criteria for Activating the Forum

As illustrated in Part III, the decision-support system (DSS) is composed of two parts: An evaluation system relying on a mathematical algorithm that simultaneously and contextually assesses different indicators (composed of multiple variables) that can be formally defined and represented. For brevity, we refer to this first part of the output as “Tool”. An interpretation and assessment system that relies on the active participation of local communities and “interested populations” (European Landscape Convention/ELC 2000) and uses indicators that cannot be formalized in a mathematical algorithm. For brevity, we refer to this second part of the output as “Forum”.

Double Green Process: a low environmental impact method for recycling of CdTe, a-Si and CIS/CIGS thin-film photovoltaic modules

Abstract On the basis of the method for managing the end of life of CdTe photovoltaic panels previously proposed by the authors, a new method for the recycling of all types of thin-film panels (CdTe, a-Si and CIS/CIGS) has been developed and optimised under a research project founded by Enel Foundation and CRUI Foundation. The DGP process has been developed through a feasibility study carried out from three points of view: technical, environmental and economic. The process is composed by two sub-processes matched to each other, one suitable for CdTe panels (named DGPa) and the other one for a-Si and CIS/CIGS panels (DGPb). The Double Green Panel process is based mainly on mechanical treatments with a minimum use of chemicals and it is characterised by a greater level of automation and a high flexibility in production capacity. The potential environmental impacts of various configurations of the DGP process have been extensively analysed with LCA tool in order to develop an environmentally friendly process. The economic feasibility has been assessed through the Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (DCFA) method. The revenues associated to the recovery of valuable and common materials and the recycling costs have been taken into account.

Artificial neural network for the second virial coefficient of organic and inorganic compounds: An ANN for B of organic and inorganic compounds

ABSTRACT An artificial neural network (ANN) to estimate the second virial coefficient, valid for organic and inorganic compounds, is presented. First, we statistically analyzed 6,531 experimental points, belonging to 234 fluids, collected from literature. The data were investigated with a factor analysis approach to identify the most significant parameters that influence the second virial coefficient. The factor analysis, combined with physical considerations, allowed to find four (Tr, Tc, Pc, ω) or five (μr) parameters as input variables for the ANN, according to the specific chemical family. The architecture of the proposed multi-layers perceptron (MLP) neural network consists of one input layer with five input variables (Tr, Tc, Pc, ω, μr), one output layer with one neuron (B) and two-hidden-layers with 19 neurons each. We trained, validated and tested several configurations of the neural network to obtain this network topology that minimizes the deviations between experimental and calculated points. Results show that the ANN is able to calculate the second virial coefficient with greater accuracy (RMSE = 29.38 cm3/mol) than that of correlations available in literature. To identify the outliers and applicability domain of the proposed MLP neural network, an outlier diagnosis based on the Leverage approach was performed. This analysis shows that the model is statistically valid.

Inspired by the Atmosphere. See the Invisible

This paper is proposed to investigate procedures which can deal with graphic formalize of numeric data relating to climatic and environmental conditions. In a scientific domain characterised by prevalence of mathematical models and statistical surveys, the possibility of making images as such becomes an additional tool for morphological research of architectural solutions influenced by environmental conditions. This methodology, along with new augmented reality technology, actually, promotes new way of dealing with the project immediately highlighting defects and weaknesses: as architectural pre-visualization has always been the architect’s domain, today, pre-visualization of environmental data becomes a useful tool for design.

Light design in historical buildings: Parameters and prototypes. Comparison of façade behavior: Metal meshes vs. high-tenacity polymer composite meshes

The quality of living spaces has long been a key issue in design focused on user needs. To correctly define the environmental quality of indoor spaces, many aspects must be considered, which necessarily involves transverse knowledge. An important role in the quality of spaces is the correct use of natural light to ensure good lighting and user comfort. This is even truer within historical buildings where the final function or use has changed over the centuries. At the same time, simulation tools have recently become very important, along with new measurement models based on open-source protocols. The experimental method proposed is applied to initial analysis for the design of a high-performance shell that can optimize façade behavior in relation to solar radiation, considering aesthetic aspects as well. The research aims to show how historical buildings could benefit from the versatile nature of high-technological devices that can answer both the functional and aesthetic needs of ancient structures. The goal is to obtain the best indoor conditions in terms of visual comfort. The results confirm the need to consciously use modern technological tools to support design. The design of healthy, safe, comfortable environments can and must make use of the most innovative architectural support tools, but it still requires the awareness and ability of the designer to achieve efficient solutions.